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Violent Crime Trends in Sharon, Pennsylvania: A Decade of Decline Amidst Population Changes
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Sharon, located in Pennsylvania, has experienced fluctuating violent crime rates alongside a steady population decline over the past decade. From 2010 to 2018, the total number of violent crimes decreased by 37.5%, from 104 to 65 incidents. During this same period, the population decreased by 7.46%, from 14,456 to 13,378 residents.
The murder rate in Sharon has shown variability over the years. In 2010, there was 1 murder, representing 0.2% of the state's total. The rate per 1,000 people was 0.069. By 2018, there were 3 murders, accounting for 0.54% of the state's total, with a rate of 0.224 per 1,000 people. This indicates a significant increase in both the number of murders and the city's contribution to state totals, despite the declining population. The murder rate per capita more than tripled during this period, suggesting an intensification of this particular crime type within the community.
Rape incidents have fluctuated but remained relatively consistent. In 2010, there were 12 reported rapes (0.73% of state total), or 0.83 per 1,000 residents. By 2018, this number increased slightly to 14 (0.72% of state total), or 1.05 per 1,000 residents. While the absolute number increased marginally, the rate per capita rose more noticeably due to the decreasing population, indicating a slight upward trend in the prevalence of this crime within the community.
Robbery trends show a significant decrease over time. In 2010, there were 29 robberies (0.22% of state total), or 2.01 per 1,000 residents. By 2018, this had decreased to 14 robberies (0.18% of state total), or 1.05 per 1,000 residents. This represents a 51.7% decrease in robberies, outpacing the population decline and suggesting genuine improvement in this area of public safety.
Aggravated assault cases have shown a notable decrease. In 2010, there were 62 cases (0.42% of state total), or 4.29 per 1,000 residents. By 2018, this had decreased to 34 cases (0.26% of state total), or 2.54 per 1,000 residents. This 45.2% decrease in aggravated assaults is significant, indicating substantial progress in reducing violent confrontations within the city.
There appears to be a correlation between the declining population density and the overall reduction in violent crimes. As the population density decreased from 3,832 per square mile in 2010 to 3,546 per square mile in 2018, the total number of violent crimes also fell. This suggests that the less crowded conditions may contribute to reduced violent interactions.
Applying predictive models based on these trends, it's projected that by 2029, Sharon may see further reductions in robbery and aggravated assault rates, potentially reaching around 10 robberies and 25 aggravated assaults annually. However, the murder rate may stabilize around 2-3 incidents per year, while rape cases could fluctuate between 12-15 annually.
In summary, Sharon has experienced a general downward trend in violent crimes, particularly in robberies and aggravated assaults, despite an increase in murders. This overall reduction in violent crime, coupled with the declining population, presents a complex picture of public safety in the city. The trends suggest that while certain types of violent crime are becoming less prevalent, others require continued attention and targeted interventions to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.
